Ethan's mind reeled as he tried to process the vision he had just seen. He felt like he was standing at a crossroads, with multiple paths stretching out before him.
Astra's words echoed in his mind - "You must choose whether to follow the threads of fate or forge your own path."
Ethan looked at Astra, trying to read her expression. But her face was inscrutable, revealing nothing of her true intentions.
"What does it mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Astra's smile grew wider, and she reached out to touch his hand. "It means that you have been given a choice," she said. "You can follow the path that has been laid out for you, or you can forge your own way."
Ethan felt a sense of trepidation wash over him. He didn't know what lay ahead, or what kind of consequences his choices would have.
"But what if I make the wrong choice?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Astra's eyes seemed to bore into his soul. "Then you will have to live with the consequences," she said. "But remember, the web of fate is complex and intricate. The threads are interconnected, and every choice you make will have an impact on the tapestry of destiny."
Ethan felt like he was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. He didn't know what to do, or which path to choose.
Astra's hand tightened around his. "Do not worry," she said. "You will know what to do when the time comes. You have been given a gift - the gift of free will."
Ethan looked at her, feeling a sense of gratitude and wonder. He knew that this was a rare and precious gift, one that many people would never receive.
As they stood there, Ethan felt a strange sensation wash over him. It was as if the threads of fate were weaving themselves around him, drawing him closer to the unknown.
He looked down at his hand, and saw that it was glowing with an otherworldly energy. The symbol on his palm seemed to be pulsing with power, and he felt himself being drawn towards it.
"What is happening?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Astra's smile grew wider. "The web of fate is awakening," she said. "And you are its key."
Ethan felt himself being pulled into the symbol on his palm, and everything went black.
When he came to, he was standing in a vast, open plain. The sky above was dark and foreboding, and the ground beneath his feet was dry and cracked.
He looked around, trying to get his bearings. But there was nothing in sight - no buildings, no trees, no signs of life.
Just a vast expanse of nothingness.